Marcel Schmelzer

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund suffered another setback in their bid to challenge for the Bundesliga title as they lost 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart on Friday.

Dortmund, without striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was suspended for arriving late to training, had the worst possible preparation for Tuesday’s must-win Champions League match at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund suffered another setback in their bid to challenge for the Bundesliga title as they lost 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart on Friday.

Dortmund, without striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was suspended for arriving late to training, had the worst possible preparation for Tuesday’s must-win Champions League match at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

An American will lift the DFB-Pokal on Saturday as Christian Pulisic and Timmy Chandler go head-to-head in the final of Germany's premier cup competition.

The two collide on Saturday as Borussia Dortmund faces off with Eintracht Frankfurt at theOlympiastadion Berlin. The two Americans will be looking to seal their first career trophies, with Eintracht Frankfurt also making a push for the club's first major top flight honor since 1988.

Berlin (AFP) – Hot-shot striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bids to lift his first title with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday amidst growing speculation the German Cup final will be his last appearance for the club.

Dortmund face Eintracht Frankfurt at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium at 2000 local time (1800 GMT) with Borussia bidding to end their run of three straight defeats in Germany’s showcase final.

Berlin (AFP) – Hot-shot striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bids to lift his first title with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday amidst growing speculation the German Cup final will be his last appearance for the club.

Dortmund face Eintracht Frankfurt at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium at 2000 local time (1800 GMT) with Borussia bidding to end their run of three straight defeats in Germany’s showcase final.

There were games outside of the Champions League on Tuesday, with Christian Pulisic in action. Pulisic's Borussia Dortmund shutout Sportfreunde Lotte in the DFB Pokal. Pulisic opened the scoring in the 57th minute at osnatel ARENA. Andre Schurrle doubled Dortmund's lead in the 66th. Marcel Schmelzer finished off the goals in the 83rd minute.

When Bayern Munich lost to the MLS All-Stars early this month, supporters shrugged it off as just a preseason friendly. But after today's 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup, will some of Pep Guardiola's critics be sounding the alarm?

The challenge for Guardiola this season is that most of his side were the backbone of the German national side that won the World Cup this season.

Liverpool are lining up a summer move for Borussia Dortmund's left back Marcel Schmelzer in the summer, claims The Guardian.

The story was also carried by Tutto Mercato Weband German daily 'Bild', and despite the 26 year year old having a contract with the Westfalenstadion club till 2017, Liverpool are interested in the German to address their left back problems.

Borussia Dortmund's injury crisis has worsened heading into their German Cup round of 16 on Tuesday.

Though Jurgen Klopp's side won against his former team Mainz 05, 3-1, on Saturday, Dortmund lost three more players to injury in the first half. Sven Bender (thigh) was forced off in the 33rd minute for Nuri Sahin, while Jakob Blaszczykowski (hip) and Marco Reus (calf) both were taken off at halftime.

Germany head coach Joachim LÃ¶w isn't feeling the love right now in Dortmund.

After sending a number of his Bayern Munich-based players home from Germany camp following their 1-1 draw with Italy last Friday, Low decided to keep the Borussia Dortmund players in the side, and both Mats Hummels andMarcel Schmelzer have come away from Germany's 1-0 victory over England with injuries.

Robert Lewandowski's late second half winner earned Borussia Dortmund an important victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger made two changes to the side that thrashed Norwich City over the weekend. Aaron Ramsey partnered Mikel Arteta in the double-pivot for the injured Mathieu Flamini, while Olivier Giroud led the line ahead of Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere.

Borussia Dortmund will be without a number of key players for the visit of SC Freiburg on Saturday. Both Mats Hummels (torn ligament) and Sebastian Kehl (broken rib) have been ruled out for the defending champions' next fixture. Whilst both Marcel Schmelzer (shoulder), Jakub Blaszczykowski (adductor muscles) and Sven Bender (cold) are all doubts for [.

Borussia Dortmund look to chase down Bundesliga leader, Bayern Munich against Hoffenheim at the Rhein-Neckar Arena at the weekend. If any team is capable of chasing down Bayern Munich, it is two time defending Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund, however Bayern Munich are the runaway favorites to take the crown this year.

Referee Wolfgang Stark has apologized for adevastatinghandball decision that led to Borussia Dortmund's 2-3 home loss to Wolfsburg. The unusual act of contrition from an official came after Stark's call resulted in a red card and automatic ban for Dortmund defender Marcel Schmelzer and a penalty for Wolfsburg that completely changed the match in the 35th minute.

Bundesliga 2010/11 Team of the 'Hinrunde' is a post from: Just Football

With the Bundesliga season recently getting back underway, rejuvenated after a
healthy 4-week winter break, we thought it about time to take a look back at the first half of the
season ('die Hinrunde') and pick out a team of the league's best performers.

The Rest

Left back is a position that has been in high demand in recent years because there just isn't much depth at the position across world football. Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos, Nilton Santos and Giacinto Facchetti represent some of the best left-backs of all time and all of them typified the characteristics necessary to excel at the left fullback position: work rate, crossing, pace, attacking support and defensive aptitude.